RNN Sports is proud to add aerial photography to the sports photos we love to bring to you during each season! Photos from the drone “Eagle” will be included along with other photos in RNN’s Logan County Edition that is available by subscription. The Logan County Edition is the area’s newest print publication that is published each week. You can subscribe today by going to residentnewsnetwork.com and following the subscription links.
Thanks for reading RNN Sports, and look for new aerial photography to bring you all of the action next school year!
Bees, and other pollinators, are essential if you want a garden. With conditions outside getting more and more dry, its harder for our pollinator friends to find water close to their hives.
I would have never noticed our bees were needing drinks had they not taken over our kiddie pool as soon as my youngest was put in it. Honey bees are docile, and will not harm unless very threatened, but they do have stingers and are capable of using them.
Because my kids are so young I worried they would hurt a bee on accident causing it to sting them. Also, when one honey bee stings they release a scent that causes others to be on high alert, and more likely to sting. So we decided to make a waterer for our overly friendly bee friends.
Any container with high sides will work. We decided to use a bright colored frisbee to attract them. Place marbles or rocks inside to keep the bees from falling in. Add water as needed.
Arresting agency – Greenwood Police Department: Katie Elizabeth Brown of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 5 at 9 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond July 6 at 12:27 p.m. Brown was charged with Possession Drug Paraphernalia – Felony.
Joe Nathan Evatt of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 7 at 11:20 p.m. and released on July 11 at 5:23 p.m. Evatt was charged with failure to appear – class C misdemeanor.
Kristina Marie Strozier of Fort Smith was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 4 at 10:08 p.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Strozier was charged with parole violation, assist outside agency – misd., failure to appear – class C felony, and family to appear – class A misdemeanor.
Colin Randall Studyvin of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 6 at 4:40 p.m. and released legally sufficient bond July 6 at 9:47 p.m. Studyvin was charged with Domestic Battering in the Third Degree – Purposely.
Dylan Royce Wood of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 4 at 10:13 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond July 6 at 5:13 p.m. Wood was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia – misdemeanor, possession of controlled substance – schedule VI misdemeanor <4oz., and possession of drug paraphernalia – felony.
Arresting agency – Hartford Police Department: Judith Lee Francis Dooley of Huntington was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 6 at remains at the SCADC without bond. Dooley was charged with parole violation, absconding, and theft of property <$1k.
Arresting agency – Arkansas State Police Troop H: Justin Boyd Gipson of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 9 at 2:11 a.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Gipson was charged with furnishing a prohibited article – correctional facility, possession of schedule I/II controlled substance with the purpose to deliver >2g., possession of drug paraphernalia – ingest meth/cocaine, no liability insurance, parole violation, and absconding.
Arresting agency – Hackett Police Department: Michael Don Harris of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 7 at 10:04 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Harris was charged with ACT 570 – parolee, parole violation, pubic intoxication – annoyance, and theft of property <$1k.
Corey Justin Turner of Bonanza was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 8 at 10 p.m. and released on signature bond July 9 at 1:30 a.m. Turner was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).
Arresting agency – Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office: Mareka Keon Kendall of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 8 at 10:31 a.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Kendall was charged with drug court sanctions.
Fallon Nichole Steffen of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 7 at 12:49 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Steffen was charged with two counts of Failure to Appear – Class C Felony.
Arresting agency – Bonanza Police Department: Kash Colby Knight of Fort Smith was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 8 at 2:49 p.m. and is being held as a fugitive from justice – out of state.
Arresting agency – Fort Smith Police Department: Brandon W Thomas of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 7 at 1:22 p.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Thomas was charged with parole violation and fleeing on foot – misd.
Arresting agency – Logan County Sheriff’s Office: James Parent, 38, of Booneville was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 6 at 1:46 a.m. Parent was charged with possession of a schedule I or II controlled substance with the purpose to deliver, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, and controlled substances – offenses relating to records, maintaining premises, etc.
Lenara Shott, 45, of Booneville was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 6 at 10:36 p.m. Shott was charged with contempt of court, and violation of probation/suspended imposition of sentence.
Daniel Jones, 39, of Fort Smith was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 7 at 10:04 a.m. Jones was charged with failure to appear, and contempt of court.
Robert Yarberry, 37, of Booneville was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 7 at 5:24 p.m. Yarberry was charged with possession of schedule I or II controlled substance with purpose to deliver, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, controlled substances – offenses relating to records, maintaining premises, etc., and possession of a controlled substance.
Cheryl Hamby, 44, of Booneville was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 7 at 5:58 p.m. Hamby was charged with contempt of court.
Arielle Stone, 32, of Booneville was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 9 at 9:51 p.m. Stone was charged with two counts of speeding, refusal to submit to arrest, fleeing, driving while intoxicated, and battery in the second degree.
Thomas Jelks, 39, of Fort Smith was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 10 at 7:20 p.m. Jelks was charged with failure to appear.
Richard Smith, 20, of Ozark was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 11 at 11:41 a.m. and was sentenced to the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
Jarrad Davis, 29, of Booneville was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 11 at 4:21 p.m. Davis was charged with failure to appear.
Karen Downs, 44, of Booneville was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 12 at 12:44 a.m. Downs was charged with failure to appear.
Auston Umholtz, 36, of Ozark was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 13 at 9:08 a.m. Umholtz was charged with contempt of court.
**The charges against those arrested are allegations and the cases are still pending in the courts.**
The heat of summer often leads anglers to large rivers and the promise of large catfish and an extended period of fish activity thanks to current keeping surface water moving and slightly cooler than in backwaters and reservoirs. But traveling on a river like the Arkansas can be a daunting task for people who don’t know what all those buoys and channel markers mean. How do you know which side of the buoys to stay on when traveling up or down a river?
Remember the 3 R’s of boating: “Red right returning.” It applies in Arkansas and all over the nation.
Whether you are paddling a canoe, chugging along in a john boat, zipping by in a bass boat or cruising on a houseboat, this simple rule will keep you in the right place – in the channel where it’s safe.
Returning means coming upstream from the ocean or the mouth of the stream. Keep the red buoys on your right as you travel upstream. That means the green buoys will be on your left.
If you are going downstream, just reverse this. The red buoys will be on your left, green buoys on your right.
Buoys are found in many sizes and shapes. Just the red and green ones mark channels. Others are white and are for information. This may be directions to a facility, for controlled areas like no-wake zones, and to identify underwater dangers like rocks or dams. A buoy with black and white vertical stripes marks an obstruction; don’t travel between it and the shore or bank.
Hartford’s first responders are looking for citizens to support their efforts through blood donation with Arkansas Blood Institute.
Those who give at the Hartford Boots & Badges blood drive on Thursday, July 21, 1 to 6 p.m. will provide blood needed to save local lives, such as those that firefighters and law enforcement officers rescue. The blood drive will be located at the Hartford Fire Station Training Room.
Anyone who is at least 16 years old* are encouraged to donate. All successful donors will receive a special edition “Protect And Give” Boots & Badges t-shirt*.
By giving blood at this drive, donors will show their support for the firefighters and law enforcement officers who save lives in their community.
“Hartford’s first responders see the daily need for blood first-hand when the people they rescue require life-saving treatment,” said Dr. John Armitage, President & CEO of Arkansas Blood Institute. “We can’t say enough about the service our police officers and firefighters provide, and we owe it to them to do our part in making sure blood is available in emergency situations.”
Arkansas Blood Institute is the local, non-profit blood supplier, supporting the inventory for patients in more than 40 hospitals, medical facilities and air ambulances statewide.
Blood donation typically takes only about an hour, and one donation saves up to three lives. Appointments can be made by calling 877-340-8777 or visiting arkbi.org.
*16-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds and provide signed parental permission; 17-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds; 18+ year-olds must weigh at least 110 pounds. Photo ID required.
The Waldron Bulldogs had the opportunity to host a 7-on-7 football camp Tuesday, July 12th to smooth off some rough edges on the Senior High and Junior High teams. Their guests for the scrimmage were the Magazine Rattlers and their Scott County rivals, the Mansfield Tigers. Waldron made sure that everyone on the field that day knew that they didn’t care if it was merely a 7-on-7, they were there to compete.
Waldron defensive backs surround a Mansfield runner
By suiting up against a 2A program (Magazine) and 3A program (Mansfield), the Bulldogs were able to get some positive looks at all of their players on the Senior High and Junior High rosters. That’s something a lot of programs don’t have a chance to do in mid-summer camps. Head Coach, Doug Powell, said “We have a very good thing going right now. Everyone stepped up. Those who wanted to learn, learned quickly. The players looked good and we got some kinks worked out in this 7-on-7”. The Bulldogs were short a few players, which is to be expected during summer, but that didn’t stop those who were there from striving for success.
Coach Powell has already stated on numerous occasions that Waldrons linemen will be game changers in the upcoming 2022 season. Luckily, 7-on-7 camps allow Powell and his coaching staff to mold their skill position players into the game winners. Camps such as the one Tuesday allows the coaching staff to work directly with quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers on the offensive side and defensive backs and linebackers on the defensive side of the ball. This allows the coaches to see things at those skills positions that may have been missed in full team practices and camps. “We noticed some mistakes here and there in the camp which is to be expected” said Powell. “The good thing is that we were able to get plenty of reps with a lot of players to notice these mistakes and coach them up on them”.
Senior High quarterback, Keegan Lynch, releases a rocket pass to his Bulldog receiver
Waldron even had the privilege to work a lot with their talented upcoming sophomore group. By doing so against other programs, the younger Bulldogs were able to get an idea of the transition in the speed of the game from their previous Junior High games to Senior High. “It may have looked like our younger players got dominated and that’s because they did at times. That’s what we want through. The best learning experience for players is getting out there and doing it. Some of our sophomores would get beat on a route, get coached up, and then make the proper correction the next play. That’s what we like to see. It was a great learning day for our inexperienced players”. The Bulldogs are building great depth by getting their younger players ample time in camps. The camp experiences and solid leadership will soon develop into not only depth but a talented depth that can benefit them in games.
The Bulldogs will host another camp this Thursday, July 14th. That camp will be a full team camp which means the “Big Dogs”, aka linemen, will be involved. The camp will be a repeat of opponents with Magazine and Mansfield attending after Two Rivers opted out. One thing is for sure, the Waldron football program is still headed in the right direction and these kinds of camps can only make them better.
The catfish may be one of the most misunderstood of all Arkansas’s sportfish. It occurs in practically every body of water in the state, grows to gigantic proportions, and is easy to catch with inexpensive equipment. Top off those features with its fantastic flavor, and it’s amazing that anyone would look down on these hardy fish.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission stocks thousands of catchable-size channel catfish through its hatchery system each year to small ponds and lakes that cannot keep up with fishing pressure. Mother Nature produces millions more of the fish in Arkansas’s rivers and lakes every year. All it takes to catch them is a little patience and the proper lure to tempt them into biting. The secret ingredient to all good catfish lures is scent.
Catfish can “smell” baits much better than many fish species. Highly sensitive membranes inside the fish’s nostrils detect compounds in the water. The more folds these membranes have, the keener the fish’s sense of smell. Trout have 18 or so of these folds, while largemouth bass may have only 10. The channel catfish is blessed with 140 of these specialized folds to sense smell, enabling it to detect compounds as minute as one part per 100 million.
So what odors make the best bait for catfish? Here are a few tried and true offerings to keep you hooked up this summer.
Smelling Fishy
The best smells of all are going to come from the foods catfish are used to eating. Shad, small bream and chunks of less desirable species like carpsuckers and skipjack are top producers for many catfish anglers.
Justin Homan, lead biologist in the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s catfish team, says many veteran catfish anglers, especially those on the big rivers of east Arkansas, favor cut shad and skipjack. These oily fish will put out a scent big catfish are looking for.
“When I’m running jugs with my wife and little girl, we tend to use cut bait as well, especially fish with a tougher skin,” Homan said. “Chunks of carp or buffalo stay on the hook well and will bring in a lot of fish.”
Homan says flathead catfish are much fonder of live baitfish than cut bait, so targeting these big fighters may require a little more effort to care for your lures. Many anglers use goldfish purchased from bait dealers, and he’s personally done well on Lake Conway running trotlines at night with live sunfish.
“You have to catch the sunfish first, and can’t move them from another body of water, but they work very well,” Homan said. “One trick is to check your bait at about midnight. Channel cats may beat the flatheads to your bait, and the flatheads are most active after about midnight. Rebaiting then can really help bring in some bigger cats.”
Any fish or crayfish caught in the wild can’t be transported to another body of water and used as bait there unless it is used as dead bait. The risk of spreading disease or invasive species is too high when moving live, wild-caught baitfish. If you want to use live baitfish but don’t have time to catch them in the body of water where you’ll fish, goldfish, shiners and minnows that can be purchased from bait shops come from baitfish farms that are certified to be free of diseases and other nasties live fish may carry.
Creepy Crawlies
Catalpa worms, nightcrawlers and other crawling critters from the flowerbed also make great bait, and they can be pulled up from the dirt can be transported without issue. Flipping a few bricks from the flowerbed or scraping aside some leaves and digging at the surface of the dirt should garner enough worms for a quick trip. Some anglers have taken the collection of worms to the next level, using a special technique called “worm grunting” or “worm fiddling” to get gobs of bait in a hurry. Compost bins also are great places to find active red worms nicknamed “red wigglers,” that don’t grow as big as the nightcrawlers you find on the ground after a rain but give plenty of action to entice finicky cats to bite.
SPAM-tastic One of those overlooked grocery store baits that definitely works wonders is good old canned meat. As outdoor writer Don Wirth always penned in issues of Bassmaster Magazine’s humorous Harry ‘n’ Charlie columns, SPAM isn’t cured and ready to eat until it has a half-inch of dust collected on the top in the back of the convenience store shelves. Believe it or not, Arkansas’s current state record and once world-record 116-pound, 12-ounce blue catfish was caught on this easy-to-store bait in 2001. It doesn’t hurt to keep a can handy in the tackle box, and if the fish aren’t biting, it’s not half bad with crackers and a little hot sauce. You can’t say the same for nightcrawlers.
Vampire-proof Weenies
Clint Coleman, assistant coordinator for the AGFC’s Family and Community Fishing Program, has seen his share of stinky lures, as he helps run dozens of fishing derbies each year. His favorite bait is pieces of hot dog soaked in a mix of cherry Kool-Aid and garlic powder. For some reason, that combination sets catfish in fishing derbies on fire.
“It’s easy to get at the store, and it’s easy to handle with kids,” Coleman said. “Some kids may not want to mess with worms, livers or stink baits, but everyone will pick up a hot dog. The garlic will put out plenty of scent to get the fish honed in on your lure.”
Coleman says don’t worry about adding water to activate the Kool-Aid. The juice from the hot dogs is all it takes.
Chicken Liver Trey Reid, host of Arkansas Wildlife Television, has had the opportunity to fish for big catfish on the Mississippi River with some real sticks, and he agrees that cut skipjack is the prime rib of the catfishing world, but for his excursions to smaller waters, he still tends toward the bait he was introduced to catfishing with — chicken livers.
“You can pick it up at nearly any grocery store on the way to the lake or keep it in the refrigerator with a little less complaints from family members than other wild concoctions,” Reid said. “Sometimes it’s good to just keep it simple and remember that fishing doesn’t have to be a huge expense or take a ton of time to prepare for.”
“Biologists used to use a manufactured soybean cheese log for bait, but we caught a lot of turtles, too,” Stein said. “Staff now use Zote Soap to bait nets. It attracts the channel catfish without the turtles so we can focus on getting valuable information on Channel Catfish including lengths, weights, population size (catch per net), age and can evaluate how much of the population is from stocked fish.”
Stein says that although he’s personally never baited up with soap, he’s talked to many anglers on the water that swear by it.
“It needs to have a high animal fat content in it,” Stein said. “Some anglers say they melt it, pour it into ice cube trays and place a hook in it so the soap hardens around the hook, then they can keep things clean and organized on the water.”
Zote is even scientifically proven to catch catfish, so-to-speak. A study conducted by Russell Barabe and Donald Jackson at Mississippi State University and presented to the American Fisheries Society in 2011 found that the catch rates of catfish between Zote soap and cut bait on trotlines was statistically insignificant. The study was in an effort to find alternatives to catfish baiting that would not catch some species of endangered aquatic turtles. The soap caught zero turtles while nabbing 193 blue catfish and 462 channel catfish when fished from 11,000 trotline hooks in six coastal rivers overnight in the Magnolia State.
Have a favorite formula for catfish success? Send a comment to randy.zellers@agfc.ar.gov. If we can stomach it, we might just feature it in an upcoming edition of the AGFC’s Weekly Fishing Report.
Speeding violations on Arkansas roadways continue to rise and law enforcement officers across the state plan to ban together in a united operation under the banner, “Obey the Sign or Pay the Fine”. The two-week crackdown directed at speeders begins Monday, July 18th.
“It’s an acknowledged fact, as a motor vehicle speed increases, so do the risks of injuries and deaths on roadways,” said Colonel Bill Bryant, Director of the Arkansas State Police and the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative. “A driver exceeding the posted speed limit is less likely to avoid a hazardous object in the road, safely steer away from another vehicle or negotiate an unfamiliar curve or highway exit.”
Speeders put themselves and others at tremendous risk as noted in the latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). During 2020, there were 11,258 people killed in speeding-related crashes, accounting for 29% of all fatal crashes in the United States.
Much like impaired driving, speeding is a selfish choice that can have deadly consequences for the driver, vehicle passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians. Speeding not only affects a driver’s ability to steer properly, but also affects stopping distances. Even the safest cars equipped with the newest safety technology have limitations in the advances made to reduce the odds of a crash.
According to NHTSA, local roads are the most dangerous for speeders. The 2020 data reports that 87% of all speeding-related traffic fatalities on U.S. roads occurred on non-interstate roadways.
NHTSA considers a crash to be speeding-related if a driver was charged with exceeding the posted speed limit or driving too fast for conditions.
“During the upcoming special speed enforcement operation, state troopers and other law enforcement officers won’t be accepting excuses, the posted speed limit is the law,” Colonel Bryant said. “Our goal will always be to save lives.”
For more information on the “Obey the Sign, or Pay the Fine” mobilization, please visit www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov or contact the Arkansas Highway Safety Office at (501) 618-8136. Additionally, motorists are encouraged to learn more about Arkansas’ ongoing Toward Zero Deaths campaign to eliminate preventable traffic fatalities at www.TZDarkansas.org .
The regular monthly meeting of the Waldron School Board was held in the Central Office Building Monday, July 11, 2022; at 6:30 p.m. Board members present were Tammye Sherrill, Clay Woodall and Konnor McKay. Board members Mac Davis and Angela Hunsucker were not present. Others present were Superintendent Daniel Fielding, Misty Owens, Chris Lipham, Ken Landon, Kim Solomon, Zack Taylor, Keith Brigance, Randi Hickman, Ryan Walker, Tonya Cluck, Darla Jeffery, Michael Galinato, Kristi Sigman and Toni Dozier.
President Sherrill called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m.
Mrs. Sherrill welcomed everyone.
Mr. Konnor McKay began the meeting with a word of prayer.
Mr. Clay Woodall led the Pledge of Allegiance.
A motion was made by Clay Woodall and seconded by Konnor McKay to approve the Consent Agenda items: A) Approval of the June 13th and June 23rd Minutes; B) Approve Financial Reports and Expenditures; C) Approve Purchase Order to ITSAVVY (pending ESSER approval); D) Approve Purchase Order to Scott County Hardware; E) Approve ASBA Invoice for Property and Vehicle Insurance; F) Approve ADE Statement of Assurances for Programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Motion carried 3-0.
A motion was made by Clay Woodall and seconded by Konnor McKay to keep the School Board Officers as they are currently. Motion carried 3-0.
A motion was made by Konnor McKay and seconded by Clay Woodall to give permission for the district to purchase fuel as needed at the lowest cost. Motion carried 3-0.
A motion was made by Clay Woodall and seconded by Konnor McKay to approve the proposal to pay extracurricular activities sponsors and coaches a flat rate of $25 per trip. Motion carried 3-0.
A motion was made by Konnor McKay and seconded by Clay Woodall to approve the ASBA policy recommendations and updates. The following policies are recommended for approval: 3.1, 3.17, 3.19, 3.26, 4.5, 4.11, 4.27, 4.45, 5.2, 5.26, 5.26.1, 5.28, 6.1, 7.5, 7.16, 7.17.2, 7.23, 8.13, 8.20, 8.45. Motion carried 3-0.
A motion was made by Clay Woodall and seconded by Konnor McKay to approve the classified salary schedule for skilled Technician/Laborer for 2022-23 SY. Motion carried 3-0.
A motion was made by Clay Woodall and seconded by Konnor McKay to adopt the Waldron Elementary, Middle and High School SLIP (School Level Improvement Plan) for the 2022-23 SY. Motion carried 3-0.
A motion was made by Clay Woodall and seconded by Konnor McKay to adopt each building handbook changes for the 2022-23 SY. Motion carried 3-0.
A motion was made by Clay Woodall and seconded by Konnor McKay to approve the Teacher and Administrator Recruitment and Retention Plan for the 2022-23 SY. Motion carried 3-0.
A motion was made by Konnor McKay and seconded by Clay Woodall to hire George K. Landon, Jr. as Computer Technician Level I with 4 years’ experience, modified with 180 days @ 6 hours /day and 66 days @ 8 hours/day, with a hire date of 07-12-2022. Motion carried 3-0.
A motion was made by Clay Woodall and seconded by Konnor McKay to hire George K. Landon, Jr. as a full time bus driver for the 2022-23 SY. Motion carried 3-0.
A motion was made by Konnor McKay and seconded by Clay Woodall to hire Ashley O’Dell as a Food Service cook for the 2022-23 SY. Motion carried 3-0.
A motion was made by Clay Woodall and seconded by Konnor McKay to hire Norma Scantling as a Food Service cook for the 2022-23 SY. Motion carried 3-0.
A motion was made by Clay Woodall and seconded by Konnor McKay to transfer Russell Dillon Ward to Coach with the following assignments, for the 2022-23 SY: 7th Grade Assistant FB, Jr. High Assistant FB, Sr. High Assistant FB, 7thGrade Track, Jr. High Assistant Track, and Sr. High Assistant Track. Motion carried 3-0.
A motion was made by Clay Woodall and seconded by Konnor McKay to hire Bryce Marek as High School Social Studies and Coach with the following assignments, for the 2022-23 SY: 7th Grade Assistant FB, Jr. High Assistant FB, Sr. High Assistant FB and Assistant Softball. Motion carried 3-0.
A motion was made by Clay Woodall and seconded by Konnor McKay to hire Shawnee Justice as Middle School Special Education Paraprofessional for the 2022-23 SY. Motion carried 3-0.
A motion was made by Konnor McKay and seconded by Clay Woodall to hire Cynthia Banta as Custodian for the 2022-23 SY. Motion carried 3-0.
A motion was made by Konnor McKay and seconded by Clay Woodall to hire Jeanetta Byford as High School Paraprofessional for the 2022-23 SY. Motion carried 3-0.
A motion was made by Konnor McKay and seconded by Clay Woodall to adjourn. Motion carried 3-0.
The Mansfield Tiger Junior High and Senior High football teams are looking at the upcoming 2022 with a change in mind. The teams are aiming to buck the system’s status quo of what everyone else does by creating their own identity for the program. They want to start a new standard for Mansfield football. Mansfield started their very first camp of 2022 at Waldron on Tuesday, July 12th. But why the late start?
Senior QB Fisher Willsey getting ready to let’r rip downfield
While many high school football programs around the state were hitting multiple team camps and 7-on-7’s during the spring and early summer, the Mansfield Tigers were nowhere to be found. The reason for that was by design. Tigers Head Coach, Tim Cothran, decided to take a different approach for Mansfield’s first half of the offseason. Instead of following the crowd, Cothran spent the Tigers time building up the team’s strength, speed, and conditioning while also focusing on polishing up on position techniques. Concentrating on fundamentals while other programs spend time at camps might seem like a gamble to some people, but not to Cothran and his coaching staff. Gamble or not, the Maverick move looked promising at Tuesday’s camp. The Tigers stepped out of the early summer shadows and stole the late summer spotlight in Waldron.
Tyler Turnipseed tucks the ball for a turn-n-burn
Mansfield didn’t play 7-on-7 against random strangers. The Tigers lined up against Waldron and Magazine, two of their annual nonconference opponents. With each program knowing each other quite well, one would figure to see some struggles from the Tigers. Everyone quickly realized though that that was not the case, especially on offense. An impressed Coach Cothran said “Overall I think both our Junior High and Senior High offenses did very well today. All of the quarterbacks looked smooth throwing the ball, our receiving corps ran crisp routes and made some great catches”. One of those great catches was made by sophomore Trey Powell who caught a circus catch from Fisher Willsey. Willsey put the ball to where only Powell could catch it and Powell superhero jumped over a defender to snag the pass. Even with the amazing catch, the overall offense looked so good that Cothran and offensive coordinator Layton Robinson couldn’t think of a single player who stood out the most. “Nobody stood above anyone else because they all did that well” said Cothran. How good were they you ask? Well, it merely took the Tigers offenses an average of three plays per score in their scrimmages. Having a plethora of weapons to threaten opponents within 2022 will be a breath of fresh air for the fans in Red.
Trey Powell shows a Waldron defender how to tap dance
Positive offensive production is always a plus, but as the old saying goes, it’s the defense that wins championships. Although the Tigers showed they have a solid passing game when they had they have the ball, they made sure that no one else had that same advantage. Junior Tyler Turnipseed provided smothering coverage while also swatting away multiple passes. Senior linebackers Reegan Emery, Caleb Collier, and Kindel Noblett shut down any slant and shallow routes over the middle. The Senior High wasn’t the only solid defense as the Junior High crew stepped up big time in the pass defending department. Freshman Alex Hecox intercepted two passes for the Junior High team against Waldron. With Hecox picking off passes, Waldron and Magazine were forced to pull in their routes towards the middle of the field. Just like with Senior High, that was not a good idea for the Tigers opponents. Laying in wait for the Rattlers and Bulldogs were Ethan Martin and Zander Walters who shredded the offenses routes across the middle. “Our defenses did quite well today. There were a couple of missed assignments, but nothing that can’t be easily taken care of. We just need more repetition to make sure we’re getting where we’re supposed to be in certain situations. You can definitely tell that all of these players are willing to go all out to get better” said Coach Cothran.
JR Tiger Alex Hecox playing keep away by snagging an interception
The Tigers showed everyone that they’re a 10 out of 10 in their first 7-on-7. Having multiple skilled athletes to make up both smooth offenses and stolid defenses was something that raised an eyebrow or two in the stands and on the opposing sidelines. Mansfield will continue doing camps through the month of July with six still on the calendar. Three of them will be at Mena, there are two more at Waldron, and one at Hackett. Their next camp will be at Waldron again on Thursday, July 14th. This time though it won’t a mere 7-on-7. No siree, the next camp will include the beefcakes…the trench warriors…the Hoss’s…that’s right, the linemen will be involved this time.
JR Tiger Logan Newman positioned perfectly for a catch and score
